E.C. Marchant, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 3

ἀπὸ τοῦ ἴσου ‘on equal terms,’ is parallel to ἐκφοβοῦντα.

σώφρονα—a very moderate criticism of the dangerous tendency now manifesting itself in Athenian public life, since the death of Pericles, to give too much weight to the πιθανώτατοι (c. 36, 6). σώφρων was esp. associated with those opposed to extreme democracy; cf. c. 62, 4. For τῷ πλεῖστα εὖ βουλεύοντι, ‘he whose connsel is generally good,’ we should expect, at first sight, something like τῷ πιστὰ ξυμβουλεύοντι (conjectnred by Weil), ‘he whose counsel is followed,’ in contrast with τὸν μὴ τυχόντα γνώμης, in the sense, ‘he whose advice is rejected’; cf πείσας and μὴ τυχών in § 3, κατορθῶν and ἐπιτυχών below. But in stating the principle that ought to be followed, the moderate Diodotus criticizes what the people professed to wish, viz. to reward good (not merely persuasive) counsellors. But in rewards the persuasive was mistaken for the good. And τὸν μὴ τυχόντα γνώμης is no doubt intentionally ambiguous, for, in contrast with πείσας, it does mean ‘he who fails to carry his opinion’; but, in contrast with τῷ εὖ βουλεύοντι, ‘not fortunate in his advice’ means ‘wrong’ ‘Who fails in counsel’ will keep up the two meanings. Cf. Aesch. PV. 204 τὰ λῷστα βουλεύων πιθεῖν . . οὐκ ἠδυνήθην. (The intentional ambiguity of this passage has escaped notice.)

ἀλλὰ μηδ᾽ ἐλασσοῦν—‘but not to curtail . . either,’ as might happen in the case of his being charged with corruption.

οὐχ ὅπως . . ἀλλὰ μηδέ—non modo (non) . . sed ne . . quidem. For the sentiment cf. Demosth. III. 18 οὐ λέγει τις τὰ βέλτιστα; άναστὰς ἄλλος ειπάτω, μὴ τοῦτον αἰτιάσθω.